Northampton City Council votes to pass new zoning legislation, making way for local retail marijuana

NORTHAMPTON - The Northampton City Council voted to approve new zoning legislation in its first reading Thursday night, helping set the stage for local retail marijuana shops this summer.

The legislation, a bevy of ordinances, will get a 2nd reading at the Council's next meeting on March 15.

The legislation was originally proposed by Mayor David Narkewicz. It was subsequently sent to numerous city committees and to the city's Planning Board, which reviewed it and returned it to the Council.

Much of the legislation simply updates current laws created to deal with medical marijuana.

The legislation includes:

An ordinance that imposes zoning limitations, making it illegal for a retailer to set up their business within 200 feet of a pre-existing public or private K-12 school--rules local medical marijuana dispensaries already adhere to.